[Intro by Arvind Kumar]
When Tarun applied to top business schools last year with another consultant, the outcome was disappointing.
He was told that without big-name corporate brands on his resume, top MBA programs were out of reach. Moreover, his previous consultant barely gave him time, treating his application like an assembly-line job rather than a personalized strategy.
So when he approached us at admitStreet, his primary hurdle wasn’t just fixing his essays – it was rebuilding trust in the advising process itself.
After our introductory chat with Tarun, we saw things differently. Where others saw a non-traditional resume, we saw someone who had skipped the safe path to build something far more valuable: true founder’s DNA.
Born and raised in Hyderabad in a low-middle-class family, Tarun proved his academic chops early by cracking IIT Bombay. Right out of college, he jumped into the deep end by founding his health-tech startup, Haki Care, which won national recognition and secured competitive seed funding.
When the COVID second wave hit, deals fell through, the venture was forced to shut down, and Tarun lost his grandmother to the pandemic – a deeply personal tragedy that exposed critical gaps in eldercare.
Instead of backing away, Tarun treated the experience as a launchpad.
Realizing he needed a well-rounded generalist toolkit before returning to entrepreneurship, he embarked on a series of intentional, high-impact moves: driving $1M+ in AI implementations for Fortune 500s at Jio Haptik, spearheading cross-border expansion into the UAE and Australia at Setu Nutrition, and building a multi-million-dollar global growth engine from scratch as Chief of Staff at Modist.
Working together, we anchored his positioning around his core strengths: high-ownership intrapreneurship, proven analytical horsepower, and a versatile, generalist skill set capable of scaling businesses from zero to one.
Add to that his deep engagement with the IESE community – speaking with nearly ten alumni, attending live case sessions, and submitting his applications while stranded by landslides during a Himalayan trek – and his drive was indisputable.
Today, Tarun is heading to Barcelona to join IESE – a school that perfectly aligns with his goal of joining a top-tier strategy consulting firm, while giving him the global network and real-world case-method debate to broaden his perspective before he eventually returns to build his dream venture long-term.
Background and Motivation
Arvind (admitStreet): Let’s start with your background, upbringing, and how you got into IIT, which is no easy feat.
Tarun: So, I was born and brought up in Hyderabad, and I lived there until my 12th standard. I come from a low-middle-class family, so education was always the top priority for my family and me. From an early age, my parents and I realized that I was really good at math and science. So, I started doubling down, and post-10th standard, I joined a hostel to focus entirely on my IIT prep.
It was really hectic, but I’m truly glad I got into IIT Bombay because it opened my eyes to so many different things. I met a lot of interesting people there, realized the value of working hard and following your curiosity, and had an amazing four years.
Right after I graduated, I started my own company. I was able to raise seed funding straight from campus and ran a health-tech startup focused on elder care for about a year and a half. We had a few clients signed up and were doing well, but unfortunately, COVID hit and all of our deals fell through.
During that experience, I realized that while starting up right out of college was the right move in terms of understanding what it takes to run a business and its different aspects, I also realized I wasn’t skilled enough yet to manage a company at that age. That realization helped guide my philosophy moving forward.
After I shut down my company, I was very sure that I wanted to build a generalist profile because I want to return to entrepreneurship down the line in my career. To build that generalist profile and achieve accelerated growth, I made a conscious choice to join startups. So, after my company, Haki Care, I joined an AI startup called Jio Haptik. I worked there for two years and got promoted to Strategy Manager.
It was my first experience working in a corporate setup and brought a lot of learnings in product management, project management, working with cross-functional teams, and building the skill set required to take a project from start to finish. That was also my first hands-on experience understanding how AI can impact big enterprise clients. I got the chance to work with clients like Lenskart, The Container Store from the US, and Disney Hotstar, seeing the true potential of AI.
Arvind (admitStreet): I think around that same time was the ChatGPT moment as well, right?
Tarun: Yes, right around that time ChatGPT was released. I worked on a very interesting project where we integrated ChatGPT into our existing product recommendation algorithm. I think I was in the right place at the right time, which allowed me to dabble and play around with AI.
After two years at Jio Haptik, I wanted to gain experience on the marketing and branding side, again, to build that generalist profile. I got an opportunity to work at Setu Nutrition in the Founder’s Office as a Strategy Associate.
Jio Haptik was a B2B company, whereas Setu was D2C, so they were completely different domains. I made that conscious choice because I wanted to learn marketing and branding. At Setu, I had an amazing time: I helped launch two products, gained an understanding of consumer and D2C marketing, and worked extensively on meta-marketing running meta-campaigns. I also helped Setu expand into the Middle East.
In all these roles, whether at Jio Haptik or Setu, I had the opportunity to build things from scratch and build my muscle in driving strategic initiatives. While helping Setu expand into the Middle East, a founder from a Dubai-based company reached out to me. I transitioned to that firm, where I’ve been helping major Indian brands expand into the Middle East and the US.
I made a conscious choice to transition into global growth as Chief of Staff, where I was responsible for overall growth, with sales being a core component. After learning product management, project execution, team management, marketing, and branding, I realized that sales was another critical pillar for a generalist founder. At Modist, I built a sales engine and a 10-person sales team from scratch. We closed major brands like Epigamia and several others that collectively do over 2,000 crores ARR in India and are now expanding to the Middle East and US.
Working at Modist was a great experience because, for the first time in my career, I truly had the chance to work with an international team. Working with people from diverse backgrounds and hearing their distinct perspectives on solving challenges broadened my horizon and accelerated my learning.
Arvind (admitStreet): Right. That’s a really interesting angle because, especially from an MBA application standpoint, one of the big myths is that you need prestigious brand names on your resume, the Fortune 100s, Google, Microsoft, and so on. But what you’re describing, and what you’ve actually demonstrated, is that working in smaller or mid-sized companies allows you to move the needle much more directly.
The impact of what you do there is very different from being a junior or mid-level employee at a massive company. Sure, at a large enterprise, you learn standard processes and best practices, but in a startup, you’re in the weeds, on the ground executing, failing, learning, and adapting. That gives you a rich set of transferable skills because you expose yourself to diverse scenarios, equipping you to handle versatile roles whether in consulting, strategy, or leadership.
Tarun: I completely agree with that point. Every time I transitioned to a new company, domain, or industry, what always gave me confidence was the underlying transferable skills I had built. When you work at startups, you collaborate closely with senior leadership, CEOs and CXOs, where you get to observe what really goes into high-stakes strategic decision-making.
You take on a level of ownership that simply isn’t possible early in your career at a multinational company. It can be a double-edged sword and gets tough at times, but the learning upside is incredibly high. I’ve been fortunate to work with great people who helped me grow both personally and professionally.
When I applied to MBA programs in a previous cycle, the narrative from the consultant I worked with was that I couldn’t target top-tier colleges because of my background, that having startups instead of big corporate brand names on my resume would hinder my chances. I really wanted to change that perspective. Working with you helped me realize that it’s about much more than brand names; it’s about articulating your actual impact, highlighting the skills you learned, and showing how those transferable skills will enable you to succeed in an MBA program and achieve your post-MBA career goals.
Arvind (admitStreet): Let’s talk about your extracurricular activities. Can you talk about some of the activities you’ve been involved in, what you’ve done, and what you’ve learned from them?
Tarun: I’d like to pick and talk about two specific extracurricular activities. The first one is teaching. Since graduating from college, I’ve been very passionate about mentoring and teaching students. Even during my college days, I used to tutor 8th to 10th-grade kids in math and science to earn pocket money, and I continued doing that even after I started working. I volunteered with local NGOs near my place in Mumbai to teach during weekends, which brought me a lot of comfort and happiness over time.
The other thing is trekking. I really love adventure and the opportunity to disconnect from phones, spend ten days in the mountains surrounded by nature, reflect on your thoughts, and decompress.
Including these extracurriculars in your application highlights different dimensions of your profile and makes you a well-rounded candidate in the eyes of adcoms. It reassures them that you won’t focus solely on academics during your MBA, but will actively socialize and contribute to the campus culture.
Arvind (admitStreet): Absolutely. For someone with an IIT pedigree, startup experience, and a strong GMAT score, the baseline assumption is that you’re strong analytically, whether in problem-solving or quantitative reasoning. But the other side of the equation, which business schools pay equal attention to, is soft skills: how well you interact with others, collaborate with diverse groups, and respond to challenges.
This applies to candidates generally, but especially to the over-represented Indian male demographic with high test scores and backgrounds from IITs, NITs, or BITS. Highlighting your personal values, interests, and growth beyond your degree and professional track record provides an additional layer that helps your profile stand out holistically.
Tarun: Yes, and another insight I gained after speaking with adcoms is that extracurriculars don’t just demonstrate interpersonal skills or cultural fit; they also signal resilience under the pressure of an intense MBA program. Many candidates experience high-pressure environments in their professional lives, and having personal outlets to decompress reassures adcoms that you can navigate demanding, high-stakes situations effectively.
Arvind (admitStreet): Let’s switch gears and talk about what actually motivated you to pursue an MBA. Was there a specific aha moment when you realized you wanted to do an MBA? When was it, and why?
Tarun: Working in startups very closely with senior leadership, Arvind, I realized that while I was good at picking up a domain, learning quickly, and building skills from scratch, becoming a senior leader or someone who can lead a company requires a holistic understanding of business, and an MBA definitely helps build that.
The second primary reason for me was observing how senior leaders tackled challenges and solved problems in strategic ways that I couldn’t have thought of. A common thread I noticed was that many of them held MBA degrees. While it isn’t the only way, going through an MBA program refines your critical thinking, deepens your overall business acumen, and sharpens structured, strategic thinking to help you make better decisions. I wanted to reach that level, and after working for five years, I felt I had hit a plateau in my career. Wanting to build an international career as well, an MBA was the logical next step.
Arvind (admitStreet): Right, and I think that ties back to what you mentioned earlier about making conscious choices after your startup to acquire skills across different functions. You did that through startups and mid-sized companies, whereas an MBA provides a low-stakes, high-exposure environment. If you propose a bold idea in a case discussion and people disagree, or if a classroom project doesn’t go as planned, the risk is minimal compared to a live business environment.
It’s an ideal setting to make mistakes, learn the right frameworks, and refine how you persuade and align others around your perspective. Beyond that, you get to build a network of peers from diverse backgrounds, which is particularly pronounced in European business schools given the high concentration of different nationalities represented in the cohort.
Application Strategy
Arvind (admitStreet): Can we talk about the application process itself? If you could deep dive into it: you applied the previous year, so you knew what to do, what not to do, or at least the lay of the land. But in terms of the process itself, what are your key recollections, insights, or lessons regarding picking schools, going through the CV and essays, and maybe touching on our working process while you talk about it?
Tarun: Got it, Arvind. Having gone through the MBA application cycle twice, my thought process and approach were completely different the second time around.
The first time I applied, I approached it like a typical applicant working with a traditional agency, but I didn’t get personalized guidance or expert insight. I was driving most of the conversations, while they were primarily making basic grammatical edits. The biggest mistake I made in my essays back then was trying to cover too many diverse topics rather than going deep into specific experiences. I also lacked a clear narrative around my post-MBA goals. Coming from startups and being rushed during my first cycle, I didn’t take enough time to sit down, reflect on my long-term direction, connect my past experiences to my future goals, or articulate how a specific MBA program would bridge that gap.
One thing I really appreciated about working with you (admitStreet) was how you guided me on what it truly takes to write a compelling essay. You helped me frame key angles, such as demonstrating cultural fit, clearly defining post-MBA goals, and understanding how a school’s specific curriculum aligns with those objectives. My biggest takeaway for essays is that instead of trying to mention everything, pick one or two concrete, high-impact examples from your personal or professional life and dive deep into them.
Another realization was regarding test scores. In India, with exams like CAT or JEE, there’s often a belief that a top score guarantees admission. I had a 695 on the GMAT Focus Edition and fell into the false assumption that a high score alone would get me into a top program. But in international MBA admissions, you are competing with exceptionally strong candidates, and adcoms evaluate you holistically, test scores are just one part of the puzzle.
In my first attempt, I didn’t appreciate how critical the resume was. Working with you, I realized it’s actually one of the first components you should lock down and invest significant time into refining. Previously, I had written my resume for industry-specific HR recruiters, filling it with technical jargon. You made a crucial point: an MBA resume must be tailored for an admissions committee. I revamped it to be easily digestible for a generalist reader, removing heavy jargon and focusing on action-oriented language. I made sure to quantify my impact, highlight leadership, and demonstrate how I helped businesses navigate challenges and hit KPIs.
Beyond essays and resumes, the smaller components matter just as much, such as presenting yourself articulately in video essays, thoroughly researching each school’s unique culture, and understanding what distinguishes one program from another.
In my second application cycle, I split my time equally between writing essays and engaging directly with the schools, attending events, speaking with current students and alumni, and identifying specific campus resources that would help me achieve my post-MBA goals. Incorporating those details organically into my application signaled to the adcom that I not only had a clear vision for my career, but also a precise plan for how their program’s specific offerings would help me get there.
Arvind (admitStreet): So let’s talk about IESE. This was one of your, if not the, top priority schools, right? Why was that, and can you talk about the conversations and interactions you had with adcoms, alumni, and the student community?
Tarun: Even before shortlisting colleges, Arvind, the single highest-impact exercise we did was mapping out my career path and defining my short-term post-MBA goals. Once I was 100% aligned that strategy consulting fit my background, interests, and skill set, I doubled down on finding schools with strong pipelines into that field.
When I started researching, IESE stood out immediately as a top target because a large portion of every graduating batch goes directly into consulting. Another major draw for me was the case method approach. Every class at IESE revolves around case studies where you actively discuss and debate real-world strategic problems with peers from all over the world. IESE also boasts one of the most diverse cohorts among global MBA programs, with over 85% of students coming from outside of Spain. Hearing distinct perspectives from people of varied backgrounds really appealed to me.
What truly sealed the deal for me was attending a live case study session about three or four months before applying. Experiencing the professor’s facilitation style, the peer interactions, and the fresh viewpoints, insights I wouldn’t have even considered on my own, completely sold me on IESE.
Lastly, during the application process, one thing you really drilled into me was the importance of networking, reaching out to students and alumni to understand a school’s authentic culture. I spoke with students across both US and European programs, and IESE’s network stood out for how remarkably responsive and warm everyone was. I reached out to nearly ten alumni and current students, and every single one took time out of their busy schedules to speak with me.
I remember speaking with an alumnus, from the Class of ’23. We ended up chatting for an hour and a half. He not only shared advice on the application process, but also gave me a realistic picture of student life, campus culture, and how to navigate recruiting. Several other seniors helped me out just as generously.
Coming from my work background in India, if I was going to move abroad for an MBA, I wanted to join a community where I felt supported by the people around me. I felt that IESE was a place where I could find my tribe, learn continuously, and give back to the community over time.
Unique Selling Points & Challenges
Arvind (admitStreet): If we were to focus on this application, in your mind, what were some of the key factors of your profile that differentiated you? On the flip side, what were some of the challenges, and how did we address them?
Tarun: Yeah, Arvind, I think again I’d like to highlight how you helped me discover my USPs. In my previous application cycle, I didn’t really have any USPs, I was just applying as someone who worked in strategy roles as a Chief of Staff and wanted to transition to being a founder. Working with you, before we even started drafting applications, we had a few sessions where we sat down, truly understood my personal and professional story, and pinpointed my key strengths.
The USPs we highlighted in my application gave me a great return. First, we focused on the founder’s DNA, showing how I carried an entrepreneurial mindset throughout every role, starting initiatives from scratch, building teams, and managing tough conversations and stakeholders. Second, working across diverse industries helped clarify my short-term post-MBA goal of management consulting. Given my background across different sectors and company stages, consulting made complete sense. And third, having the IIT Bombay brand name alongside a strong test score helped me stand out within the competitive Indian applicant pool.
I also want to highlight Letters of Recommendation (LORs). In my first application cycle, I didn’t pay much attention to LORs, and the agency didn’t really help me either, my recommenders essentially used generic content generated by ChatGPT across all colleges. This time, I made a conscious choice to reach out to people who actually knew my work firsthand, rather than just choosing individuals with fancy titles. Similar to the essays, we picked specific stories and dived deep into what I did, how I handled challenges, and my growth areas. That resulted in stellar recommendations from my founders and managers, which significantly strengthened my profile.
As for my weaknesses, the two main concerns troubling me were my low undergraduate CGPA and the lack of big brand names on my resume.
With your help, we structured the narrative around the lack of big brand names by shifting focus toward impact, learning, and how my transferable skills would serve me both during and post-MBA.
Regarding the low CGPA, it was a hard pill to swallow, but I realized I couldn’t change the past. The best approach was complete honesty. I focused heavily on getting a high GMAT score to offset it, and in the optional essay, I explained the context truthfully: I was deeply involved in entrepreneurial side projects and research with design professors building cognitive games, which eventually led to funding for my first startup right out of campus. I also completed additional coursework to demonstrate strong academic readiness, signaling to the adcom that my college GPA was a reflection of where my focus was at the time, not a lack of academic capability.
Arvind (admitStreet): Do you want to share the application deadline week, or weeks, when you were traveling, and what happened during that time?
Tarun: You were really patient with me, Arvind, and truly helped me out during that phase. I had planned a trek called Pin Bhaba Pass in India, but unfortunately, the dates coincided right with the submission deadlines for Round 1 US colleges.
I was completely out of network for 10 days, so we wrapped up most of my essay drafts beforehand, and you shared detailed feedback for me to review when I got back. After the trek, I was supposed to return home to Mumbai, but I got stranded in Himachal for another 10 days due to severe landslides.
We were trying to coordinate everything over phone calls with a spotty network. I vividly remember getting on late-night calls, typing away on my phone trying to make edits and polish my essays. It was a hectic and stressful time, but I was so glad you were there to guide me through it.
What I really appreciated during that phase was not just the reassurance that you were available at late hours whenever I managed to get connectivity, but also how direct and actionable your feedback was. That gave me clear direction to finalize my drafts, submit my applications on time directly from my phone, and ultimately secure interview invites. It was truly an adventurous application process!
Arvind (admitStreet): When candidates say they had an “adventurous” application process, they usually mean it metaphorically; rarely do they mean an actual trek and real-life landslides! I remember there was a serious risk of landslides while you were traveling.
Tarun: I remember sitting on the bus making final edits to my essays on my phone right as a major landslide happened that blocked our way back!
Arvind (admitStreet): Looking back, it all ended well on both fronts. A great story to tell now!
Application Process & Assessment Day
Arvind (admitStreet): Can you talk about the application process specific to IESE? Post-interview shortlisting, there are two stages: Assessment Day and the individual interview. Assessment Day is particularly unique to IESE. What is Assessment Day like, and what are its key components?
Tarun: Yeah, for Assessment Day, Arvind, I got a lot of insights from speaking with alumni and using resources from admitStreet. Assessment Day essentially has two main parts.
Prior to the day, they give you a case study to prepare, which you then discuss in a simulated class format. After that, you are given a specific problem statement to analyze and solve in a small team of eight to ten people.
My top recommendation for candidates wanting to succeed on Assessment Day is to be thoroughly prepared. I spent almost two to three hours taking detailed notes on the case to understand it end-to-end.
During the first half, the class discussion, the professor calls on candidates by name. The key here is to stay actively engaged in the flow of the conversation. When the professor calls on you, make sure your contribution directly addresses the current thread of discussion, rather than just forcing on an unrelated point you had drafted earlier.
In the second half, when you are assigned a problem statement with your team, adcoms are evaluating how well you collaborate in a group of diverse nationalities, how effectively you navigate different opinions and facilitate discussion.
My advice here is not to dominate or overshadow others. It isn’t about proving you’re the smartest or most articulate person in the room with all the answers. It’s about listening to different perspectives, synthesizing them, and helping guide the team toward a well-reasoned solution.
During my team exercise, I wasn’t the person who spoke the most, but I ensured my inputs were relevant and actively invited quieter or more introverted team members to share their thoughts. Everyone comes prepared, but some people are naturally hesitant in group settings. Creating an inclusive environment where everyone could contribute, and then debating those ideas constructively to reach a consensus, made a big difference. Focusing on enabling the conversation rather than overpowering it was crucial.
Arvind (admitStreet): Right. I think that’s a great takeaway: it’s not about how frequently you speak, but the quality and relevance of what you say. Even if you speak fewer times than you initially planned, facilitating the discussion and encouraging others to contribute, especially those who may be introverted or waiting for the right moment, shows real maturity.
Tarun: To be completely honest, when I initially prepared the case and problem statement, I thought I had brilliant points that I just had to get out. But as the conversation unfolded organically, many interesting angles emerged that I hadn’t even considered. Incorporating those fresh inputs into our solution was key. I think that’s precisely what adcoms are testing: whether you know when to step back, listen, and let others speak, and when to step in and add value.
Interview Experience
Arvind (admitStreet): The one-on-one interview after Assessment Day, what was that like, and do you recall any specific topics or questions that were asked?
Tarun: Yeah, Arvind, my IESE interview lasted almost an hour. I had it directly with a member of the Indian Adcom, and it was very conversational.
The first five minutes or so were spent making small talk and getting comfortable. Then, we dove straight into my resume. It was a very organic discussion where the interviewer probed deeply into the points I’ve highlighted on my CV, what actually went down in those projects, the specific challenges I faced, key weaknesses, and what I would have done differently.
This portion covering my professional and personal experiences took about 40 to 45 minutes. Here again, Arvind, you were of tremendous help. Before the interview, you suggested that I outline eight to nine core stories from my personal and professional life in the STAR format, detailing what went right, what went wrong, and what could be improved. Having those structured stories at my fingertips made a world of difference.
They came up naturally when we discussed specific projects, such as how I helped Setu with international expansion, or how I convinced my founder using data-driven A/B testing insights rather than just pushing a subjective narrative. Having those eight to ten prepared scenarios in STAR format is something I highly recommend to candidates for any MBA interview.
The last 5 to 10 minutes focused on “Why IESE?”.
One unique aspect of IESE’s application and interview process is that adcoms explicitly ask about the other business schools you’re applying to. This came up during my interview. She asked why I was applying to INSEAD, why Darden, and why my list wasn’t strictly limited to either European or US programs.
We had discussed this scenario beforehand, and my advice to candidates is to ensure you cover all your bases. Don’t just focus on your resume; thoroughly review every detail you submitted in your application and have a logical, well-reasoned explanation for the choices you made. They want to see that you’ve given deliberate thought to your entire strategy and can deliver a coherent response.
The final five minutes were reserved for my questions for the adcom, which I used to ask specific, well-researched questions that demonstrated my genuine interest in IESE.
Advice for Prospective Students
Arvind (admitStreet): All right, great! To wrap things up, you’ve already shared a couple of great tips, but if you were to summarize your key pieces of advice for candidates applying to IESE, or any top business school, for that matter, what would those be?
Tarun: I have a few pointers based on my experience, especially having burned my hands in my first application cycle.
Number one: start the application process as early as possible and double down on your strengths. I would strongly suggest allocating equal time to engaging directly with the community, talking to current students, attending campus events, and connecting with alumni to truly understand the culture and gauge whether the program is the right fit for you. That was a game-changing piece of advice for me in my second application cycle, and it played a huge role in landing my offer from IESE as well as interview invites from other top business schools.
My other main suggestion is to take a truly holistic approach rather than focusing solely on your professional career. Try incorporating personal stories wherever possible. In my application, I shared stories about mentoring students and the financial struggles I faced early in life. That added real depth to my candidature, helping the admissions committee understand who I am as a person beyond my resume. That was something I did completely differently this round, and it made a massive difference.
Arvind (admitStreet): Thank you again, Tarun, and all the best for your time ahead at IESE in Spain! Have a fantastic time, and thanks once again for taking the time to share your journey.
Tarun: Thank you, Arvind. You played a crucial role in this journey, and I’m really glad we got to work together. I’ll definitely stay in touch, and hopefully, we can meet up in Barcelona when you travel there!
Arvind (admitStreet): Yeah, hopefully! Glad to stay in touch. Thanks again, man, and take care.
Tarun: Thank you, Arvind!
Watch the Full Success Story Video Here:
Planning your MBA journey?
With 1:1 mentorship and strategic support, we’ve helped candidates turn uncertainty into admits and scholarships. Ready to begin?